Disappointment spread around the Belmont on Saturday afternoon after the game was abandoned after sixty one minutes just as Whitstable were awarded a penalty that could have taken them three ahead. The game played in driving rain was only on because of the hard work of the ground staff during the week prior to the game. The pitch was playable but made difficult in the atrocious conditions.

Ross Webb finds net from Free Kick

Both teams took time to settle down but it was Town who were first on the attack when they took the lead on nine minutes. Steve Hafner hit a free kick from well outside the right hand side of the penalty area. The ball slipped through all the defenders into the corner of the net. Two minutes later Ashley Baverstock had an opportunity when he had a shot from the left but the ball went wide of the target. Redhill had to wait until Niall Egan broke down the left hand side. His shot under pressure slammed into the side netting. There were very few more chances in the half with the only real opportunity coming to Charlie Smith four minutes before the break when he had a header from a corner deflected away.

The rain intensified at the start of the second half and saw the visitors taking

Ashley Baverstock wins penalty just before lights go out

control. After 47 minutes Redhill’s Matt Robinson shot across the Whitstable goal but the ball went wide. However against the run of play Whitstable increased their lead on 56 minutes with a goal which was a carbon copy of the first. This time Ross Webb took the free kick beating everyone and sliding into the corner of the net. This gave Whitstable confidence and Hafner then had a shot with three minutes that went over the bar. The last action of the game came on 61 minutes when Baverstock was brought down by Redhill keeper Andy Greaves. Before the penalty could be taken a third of the lights went off and after a short period the referee decided to abandon the game.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the home side as they could have gained three points but for the floodlight failure.